Friday, July 29, 2011

Doggy Rain Dances Work


Can you believe Mom and Dad were planning on an Anniversary beach trip right after Dad got home from a business trip? Really, leave us alone to go to a non-pet friendly area again? We think not and puppy prayers were answered. It is an icky day and we have Mom and Dad all to ourselves. We did hear Dad mention something about rescheduling. Not sure what that means.

Perhaps we should have been more excited when Mom was trying to find dog friendly beaches. Just because we are not excited about water does not mean should give up trying to find a place we can go.

We are still trying to figure out what Anniversary is and why Mom and Dad would plan a special day without us. What could be more special than a day with us?

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Papa's Home and Mama Gets to Sleep


We have no idea why Mama thinks she can sleep while Papa is gone. It is far too stressful to sleep. Yesterday the thunder and lightning did not improve the situation and Mama brought out the Through a Dog's Ear: Music to Calm Your Canine Companion, Volume 1 and Bailey and I finally dropped off to sleep.

While Papa falls asleep to the music, Mama does not find the music all that sleep inspiring. She was up and grumpy. She seems to think that not sleeping for two days will do that.

We all were thrilled to see Papa though. Katy finally slept through the night, letting Mama get a real night’s sleep. Mama is still pretty tired this morning, but much less cranky.


Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Contrasts in Weather

First, it was too cold and we lacked access to patrol the yard.


Now it is too hot to run around and keep things under control.


We are hoping for some fun weather soon.

Monday, July 25, 2011

This Garden Thing Has its Moments


Mom and Dad spend more time outdoors. This weekend Mom and Dad were actually on the garden swing. OK they forgot to bring the cushions out and I ended up in Mom's lap instead of sitting on my favorite comfy spot. However, despite the heat they are still outside with us.

Dad is excited because he had enough veggies to make a salad. He had cucumber, lettuce, zucchini, green onions, and peppers. The tomatoes are still green, but he was happy with the harvest. He has an eggplant close to done and Mom is thinking parmesan. What does this have to do with us? Well as Mom always tells us, happy well fed parents make for happy Shelties. When they are eating healthy, they have more energy for playing with us and you know it is all about us.

No additional critter incursions to add to my weekend report. Katy and I have been vocal this weekend. I suspect that has helped keep down the visits. Human activity also makes them less likely to wander in and attack the plants.

Friday, July 22, 2011

There Really is a Creature in the Garden Stamping on the Veggies




We are demanding Mom get a CSI team out here to take samples so the next time she blames us we can be eliminated as suspects. She found a cat in the veggie garden and it left after we barked at it.

Now the last time Dad found Katy in the garden there was not one plant touched. Katy's princess paws negotiated the rows and not one veggie was harmed. We are demanding Dad reopen the onion assault case that he has blamed on us. We think there is reasonable doubt that others are to blame. If nothing else, we want paw prints and DNA to exclude us from any further crime scene activities. This garden is a hot bed of critter crime. We are tired of being blamed for it when there are clearly other suspects with motives to pin the veggie assaults on us.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Bark in the Park


While Mom was at the park yesterday she found out the Lowell Spinners are also having a Bark in the Park night that other bloggers had told her about. This Sunday, July 24 there are limited tickets for special human and doggy seating and you have to buy a special dog pass for $5. The money goes to the Lowell Humane Society. Sadly, Mom was late to the concept and the game is this Sunday. Dogs can participate in a dog parade before the game. There are special dog events between innings. It sounds like fun. Not only do I doubt Mom could get tickets but with Dad traveling and another non-doggy outing planned for Saturday, I don't see Dad making a trip back to the park for the dog baseball game.

However, now that we know about it, we have a whole year to work on Dad. By then Katy may even want to make the trip. Perhaps I should ask Santa for baseball gear when I visit this winter.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Mom and Dad are Going to a Baseball Game Without Us


Mom and Dad are off to see a minor league baseball game this week. They are taking Grandma, Grandpa, and one of our human cousins. Mom recently was talking about how family friendly this park was so we wanted to go. Mom had to explain family friendly means human kids, not fur kids.

Who are bigger baseball fans than us? We sit with Dad through every game. We would make great ball dogs. When the kids run the bases, we would be great at herding them. Yet, no dogs allowed in the park.

Can you picture us with our baseball hats and team bandanas? Well hopefully, Dad will leave the Red Sox game on so at least we can watch that while they are gone. Katy thinks we can get an extra walk out of Dad over this issue.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Doggy Story Time


I have been listening to audio books in the morning while I work on writing, crochet, and house projects. Some of the books I review for my education blog, others are just books of personal interest. This keeps me from doing what I did last night, staying up into the early hours of the morning finishing one paperback and one hardcover book that I need to return to the library.

Bailey and Katy were not sure at first about this noise coming from the stereo. However, now Katy will come and poke me if I have gotten distracted and forgotten to put her stories on when I come downstairs after my husband has left for work.

Yes, Katy now thinks that the stories are for her. Bailey will listen, and enjoy the voices, but the TV equally entertains him. There is something about the sounds coming from the stereo that Katy really enjoys.

Now Bailey will listen to anything that does not have scary sounds. He is the same way with TV. When I watch anything on TV with scary music or sounds, Bailey will leave the room and not return until it is over.

Katy on the other hand has developed a taste for books. At first, I thought it was the reader. Perhaps she appreciated a certain sound, tone in the voice of the reader. When she did not like the reader, she would demonstrate her objections by leaving. However, some of these readers read multiple series. She has liked some, disliked others. She seems to like the romantic stories. She has loved the The Frog Princess series and was very upset the other day when I did not continue the story as I had other tasks I needed to do outside the range of the stereo. She loved the Larklight series. However, she was not at all a fan of the Percy Jackson series I was reviewing. She came back for the The Red Pyramid series by the same author. I really am not sure I can trace a pattern. It has been amusing watching her get up and leave when she is just not interested.

Today she is resting by the door, listening to a new Charlie Bones series, Chronicles of the Red King. She seems interested and has yet to leave. Yes, Katy I did hear the CD player stop. I will put the next one in as soon as I finish typing.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Summer Dog Days


Summer time and the living is busy. We are having so much fun. There are so many more things to explore in the yard. Dad and Mom come out and play with us more often.

These things Mom call Hosta plants have become great caves for us. Last night Bailey and I dived in to them during our ball game with Dad. Who knew plant life could be so entertaining. You never know what you will find in there.

Katy and I have been working on our tree house, too. It is the best place to be when it gets hot and we want to be outside. It is also a great place to make contact with a certain dog next door.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Hiding my Bone


I am glad everyone liked my picture yesterday. What people missed was I was hiding my birthday bone from Bailey.

I love my crate. It is fun to go in and relax with my binky. Since Dad installed the air conditioner over my crate, it is fully air conditioned for the summer heat. One of the few places in the house Bailey does not like to go is my crate. You see this used to be Bailey's crate when he was a puppy. Unlike me, he was not a happy crate owner. He thinks crates are prisons with blankets.

Bailey was chasing me, I ducked into the crate with my bone and he stopped. After I came out and left the bone, he did not steal it from me for once. I had found a hiding place for my toy. Well for a little while. Eventually he did get the courage up to get it out. However, for a little while I had my toy all to myself.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Gardens are Not All Evil After All


Bailey and I have decided there are a few good uses for the gardens. The flowers in particular make wonderful hurdles and items to climb under when we play. Bailey is not as crazy about this as I am, but I love jumping over them in my zoomie phases.

Secondly, our neighbors have started a veggie garden and Dad and Mom have been giving them advice about the process. As a result, the Doggie Mom came over to our yard to visit. Bailey did the immediate meet and greet and I finally had the courage to go over and meet her. After all, if I want to meet the dog I have to charm the Mom. She really liked me and even petted my head. If this keeps up, I may finally get a chance to meet HIM. Our parents discussed some vague times for getting us together. This is the first time a play date has been discussed. I am so excited.

Monday, July 11, 2011

We Celebrated Mom's Birthday


We started the day by warning Mom and Dad of dangerous thunderstorms around 4AM. Since it was Mom's birthday, Dad took us downstairs and put our favorite CD, Through a Dog's Ear: Music to Calm Your Canine Companion, Volume 1 and we all fell asleep on the couch. Mom woke up around seven just in time for the second storm and Dad gave her birthday presents before going back to bed. I thought he got a pretty good night’s sleep with us on the couch.

Since it was rainy, Mom and Dad decided to spend the day doing some shopping and spending the rest of it with us. We got to play with our Nina Ottosson Dog Brick Interactive Dog Toy. Mom and Dad seem to have as much fun setting it up and watching us play as we do finding the treats. They even brought it out when Grandma and Grandpa came to visit on Sunday. As shy as Katy was, she refused to miss her chance to play and boldly walked into the room to take her place in the game. Mom and Dad were not sure if she would even play with Grandma and Grandpa in the room.

As part of Mama's birthday weekend we did get to see Grandma and Grandpa and that was fun. Katy was shy, but she spent dinner wrapped around Grandpa's chair much to everyone's surprise. She even touched Grandma's foot before she left which seems to be her new sign of acceptance into the tribe.

Grandma and Grandpa are going to be coming up for the concerts on the common. Dad always takes me, but he was worried about Katy. Mom thinks she and Katy might stay home together. It is going to be a fun summer.

Pictures may not be used without written permission.

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Special Weekend Ahead


Bailey and I think there will be bones and celebrations tomorrow as there is another birthday in the family. Dad is taking the day off from work. However, he says it is likely to have more to do with those funny toys Mom makes. We cannot understand why anyone would want paper when she could have a nice bone.

We will be back on Monday to tell you all about it. Any extra day with Dad has got to be a good one.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Grandma and Grandpa are Coming



Grandma and Grandpa will be in Massachusetts tomorrow! They have not been to visit since Christmas. Katy has only met them once, but I got to spend lots of time before they moved to Florida. We used to go to their house all the time and play. Then they left and we only get to see them twice a year.

Grandma and Mom's sister buy the best toys. The cow in the picture is one of Grandma's picks and Katy and I play with it all the time.

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

We Survived the Fireworks



We had a great day with family. Katy snuck under the kitchen table almost close enough to sleep on one of the young adults visiting. She was so close that she was breathing on the toes, but would not quite get close enough to touch. It is progress though.

Bailey spent the day on the couch snuggled with the same guest who was resting after a shift at work before dinner. I have wondered if Bailey's close relationship is what makes Katy want to get so close.

After reading about Nala's adventures with thunder and fireworks over at Bailey be Good I decided to try picking up Bailey and wrapping him in one of his favorite fleeces to hold him during the worst of the fireworks. He normally does not like to be held when there are noises, but he settled down in my lap and watched most of the Boston Pops concert with me before deciding he wanted to get down and sleep on the floor. I will need to try more experiments before convincing my husband of the possibilities of using the Thundershirt that Nala is trying over at Bailey be Good. I am content that Bailey relaxed.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy 4th of July


Mom and Dad went out to see fireworks on Saturday. We got to play ball with their guests before they left. That was fun. Katy even participated and that was a great surprise. They had a great time at the concert and fireworks. They were gone a REALLY long time. Dad said lots of other people were there and it took a while to get home. Other people were setting them off around here, but we have managed to survive so far. We hope everyone else stays calm through the loud booms.

They are off to a parade and then we are having some of our favorite people visit. We hope all of you have some fun today despite the loud noises.


Photo Credit: dantada

Friday, July 1, 2011

Holiday Plans


Well we know we will be scheduling some of this time in after we enjoy some of the stuff Mom and Dad have planned.

We have guests coming Saturday with a kid who loves to play ball. When she is done, we usually look like that picture up there, exhausted.

Dad and Mom decided we are going to stay home while they go to the parade on July 4th this year. Bailey has had a harder time with loud noises. Sure, blame me Katy, the real reason is they know you do not like crowds and they do not want to leave you home alone. Either way we are not going to the parade.

However, two of our FAVORITE people are coming over for an afternoon cookout after the parade so we are very excited. We have not seen either of them in a while and they are always willing to give us endless attention.

We hope all of you have a happy, safe, and treat filled Fourth of July.